Improvement in boiler-flue brushes



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PATENT OFFICE;

"RENJAMIN M. s'PE-NGER, on NEWARK, NEW JERsEY.

`IMPROVEMENT INEOILER-FLUE BRUSHES.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No.112,645, dated March 14, 1871.

I, RENJAMIR M. sparata, 0f the @ayer Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, `have invented certain Improvements in Boiler-Flue Brushes, of which the following is a speciiication:

My invention is intended `to be used for re-` moving rust or anyincrustation `from the tubes or iiues of steam-boilers or steam-generators.

My device consists of a' hollow metalcylinder, composed of "two or-more segmentsoi cylinders,secured together by meansfof the head-pieces or caps,au`d clamped by nuts Ascrewed onto a rod, which forms ,a complete screw-bolt.

`The cylinder is drilled radially with small l holes at intervals, -suited'to the size ofthe brush. Throughfthese holes pass freely elas- `tic metal bristles, Atoform with the above a cylindrical scraper and brush.

` In mydrawin g I ,show the hub or cylinder in two semi-cylinders, which form I prefer, although it may be composed of more segments, if necessary or convenient in the manup facture ofthe brush.

i I am aware that brushes have beenconstrncted and used,4 for the purposeabove stated, with metalbristlesysecured in cyliny ders of wood incased in sheet metal, as a protection from the heat encountered in the prac `tical operation of cleaningues or tubes.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an elevation of thebrush complete. Fig. 2is

an elevation of one of the semi-cylinders.` Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the brush Fig. 4 is a transverse section Similar letters of reference are used'in corre-v sponding parts.

A is the hub or cylinder, composed of two part-s, B B. This cylinder `is drilled or pierced at regular intervals with ,holes d, i through n i which pass freely metallic strips or wires a,

made of steel, tempered in such a manner as i to admit of their being bentdouble, and having a toughness combined with elasticity suf-A from the elastic properties of the metal.

vD the rod of iron which formsV a core for the .cylinder or hub, and, as it has a bearing `against the bight or bend of the bristles, serves to keep them in their proper places, and gives solidity to the hub ,or cylinder.

. The cylinder A has at either end head-pieces or caps C C', which iit closely over the ends of the cylinder vor hub, and through which passes the rod D.

The semi-cylinders are clamped by meansv of the nuts b b andthe screw-threads on the rod D, and form the hub or complete cylinder A.

` I The metal ring g serves as a backing to the bristles, and is A attached to the collar e by means of the guard-rods f and rivets 7c, as seen yin the drawing. The guard-rods f support the ring g, and when the brush is passed entirely through the flues or tubes and drops beyond, these guard-rods assist the operator `in recovering the brush to the ilues or tubes without damage to it.

` 'Ihe guard-rods which I use are not attached to the head of the brush, which, in this case, would be very difficult, but to a metal ring, which enables the party using the brush to remove the guards at will. l

In the manufacture of brushes of various v sizes of diameter, by dividing the cylinders, as I propose, there is great facility gained, as it would be quite impossible to construct brushes of these sizes with undivided wooden cylinders, for the reasons, rst, it would be impossible to construct brushes of small sizes on account of the impossibility of lling them with metal bristles when the cylinders are undivided; and, further, wooden cylinders would not be sufliciently strong to accomplish the work required when lled with metal bristles. The collar c may be screwed onto the rod D or not, as per choice.

At the extreme end of the rod D is fas-tened, by means of screw-threads, the coupling h, to which is attached the handle E.

Having thus described my invention, I proceed to give the manner of its construction.

I take the strips of steel or wire a, one or more, as may be necessary, bend them in form of a ladys hair-pin, or in a U shape.

Having the cylinder A separated in its parts B B', I thrust the strips or bristles a into the holes d from the concave side of the cylinder,

and allow the ends to be free from the convex,

side I perform the same operation until all the holes in thel semi-cylinders are lled-two holes in each case forming a set, as shown in the drawing. I now take the two semi-cylinders and bring th ein together to form the coinplete cylinder. The caps G CYare then placed over the ends of the cylinder.

The nut b lbeing screwed onto the end of the rod D, the rod yis forced through the cap C, cylinder or hub A, and cap C until the nut b bears 011 the cap U. The nut b is then put in its place and screwed tightly, to clamp the semi-cylinders firmly together. I now place the collar e, with its guard-rods fand ring g, 0n the rod D, and screw on the coupling h. The handle I is then attached, and the brush l or scraper is` complete and ready for use. l

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. The divided or segmental cylinder A, as shown and described.

2. In combination with segmental cylinder A, ianged disks or heads c and c', whereby said cylinder-segments are held together, as and for the purpose shown and described.

3. In combination with segment-cylinder A and flanged heads C and C', the guard-rin g G, by which the guards are secured independent of said heads, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

VBENJAMIN M. A SPENCER.

Wtnesscs ABRAHAM MOORE, D. I. COWL. 

